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We invite you to listen to us on great radio stations across the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network weekdays- if you missed this morning's Farm News - or you are in an area where you can't hear it- click here for this morning's Farm news from Ron Hays on RON.
Let's Check the Markets!
OKC West is our Market Links Sponsor- they sell cattle three days a week- Cows on Mondays, Stockers on Tuesday and Feeders on Wednesday- Call 405-262-8800 to learn more.
The wild weather of this week has impacted the activity of OKC West- click or tap here for a summary of the Wednesday trade after the Tuesday Calf market was cancelled due to flooding in the area.
OKC West will not hold a cow and bull auction this coming Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday- but will have staff at the barn to receive cattle for the Tuesday and Wednesday sales which will be happening as normal.
Today's First Look:
mornings with cash and futures reviewed- includes where the Cash Cattle market stands, the latest Feeder Cattle Markets Etc.
Each afternoon we are posting a recap of that day's markets as analyzed by Justin Lewis of KIS futures- click or here for the report posted yesterday afternoon around 3:30 PM.
Okla Cash Grain:
Futures Wrap:
Feeder Cattle Recap:
Slaughter Cattle Recap:
TCFA Feedlot Recap:
Our Oklahoma Farm Report Team!!!!
Ron Hays, Senior Farm Director and Editor
Carson Horn, Associate Farm Director and Editor Pam Arterburn, Calendar and Template Manager Dave Lanning, Markets and Production
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Oklahoma's Latest Farm and Ranch News
Your Update from Ron Hays of RON
Friday, May 24, 2019
No Email Update on Monday Due to Memorial Day- See You Again Next Tuesday May 28!
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Howdy Neighbors!
Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update.
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 Featured Story: Billions of Dollars of Help for Farmers Coming This Summer in Another Round of Trade War Mitigation Payments
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue says the agency will take several steps to assist farmers who've been hurt financially by trade disputes. President Trump directed Perdue and the USDA to craft a relief strategy to support American agricultural producers while the administration works on trade deals.
The President has authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in aid programs, which is in line with the estimated impact of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. $14.5 billion of those funds will go to producers as direct payments through the Market Facilitation Program. Payments will be made to producers of grains, cotton, oilseed, peanuts, alfalfa, as well as other non-specialty crop producers. The payments will be based on a fixed rate for the county in which the producer farms, as well as their planted acreage. Additional payments will go to milk producers based on their production history, as well as pork producers on their hog inventory at a time that'll be announced later.
Payments for tree nuts, fresh sweet cherries, cranberries, and fresh grapes will be based on farmers 2019 acreage.
USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey says county-by-county payments rates will be less likely to influence 2019 planting decisions and will be easier to administer.
Read more about President Trump's latest trade aid package, here- and watch the video of the Whole House announcement on Thursday afternoon by clicking or tapping here.
The American Soybean Association says it welcomes news of the aid package.
"We recognize that these funds will help offset the persisting damage from tariffs, as well as enable new market development," stated ASA President Davie Stephens. However, Stephens emphasized that the soybean industry needs more access to trade.
Scott Blubaugh, president of American Farmers and Ranchers, released a statement as well thanking the Administration for its attention to producers' plight.
"We are pleased the Administration has taken the action it has today in providing payments to family farmers and ranchers to help offset the impact of oversupply and low prices to their commodities as result of trade disruptions," he said. "It is certainly a step in the right direction that all covered commodities will receive equitable treatment and we are glad to see the number increased to a higher level at $16 billion. With the Administration using historical data for calculation of payments as suggested by the National Farmers Union should ensure payments will be done in a much more expedited manner."
Blubaugh added that Congress must still act on a long term solution to reversing the record losses incurred in this ongoing economic crisis.
Later in the afternoon- several other groups praised the aid announcement- including the National Cotton Council, the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau.
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Sponsor Spotlight
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And- their iPhone App, which provides all electronic futures quotes is available at the App Store- click here for the KIS Futures App for your iPhone.
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Farmers for Free Trade Motorcade Makes Pitstop in OKC to Promote the Passage of the USMCA
Farmers for Free Trade, the national coalition supported by America's leading farm commodity groups, brought together on Thursday Oklahoma farmers, local elected officials and local farm leaders to discuss the need for Congress to quickly pass a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Congress is expected soon to consider the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which will replace NAFTA and set new rules guaranteeing Oklahoma farmers access to Mexico and Canada. Farmers for Free Trade Executive Co-Director Angela Hofmann took a moment to speak with Associate Farm Director Carson Horn about the importance of freed trade to agriculture and how the USMCA can facilitate that between two of the United States' most important export markets.
"We've had a lot of uncertainty in the market with our negotiations with China, we've had a lot of discussions on steel and aluminum, we're looking at the European Union and other markets that we want to get into... The USMCA Agreement is the one thing right in front of us right now that we see that could bring some real stability and economic relief to our farmers and ranchers," Hofmann said. "And, it's not just agriculture that is reliant on trade. It's the other industries, too. It's the pet food industry, the manufacturers, the logistics providers that move our product and we export a lot of food. So, those markets are really important." The event is part of an RV tour Farmers for Free Trade is undertaking across the country in support of USMCA. The #MotorcadeforTrade is making stops across the country at family farms, coffee shops, ag equipment dealers, small businesses, and more to highlight American farmers' reliance on trade with Canada and Mexico. Oklahoma City marked the beginning of the Southern leg of the tour, Hofmann said. Next, motorcade will travel to Texas, then New Mexico and Arizona and into California before touring up the West Coast and into the middle states. By the end of the tour, she hopes to see the USMCA Agreement passed. You can listen to their complete conversation to learn more about the importance of trade and this agreement and how you can show your support for its passage, by clicking or tapping here.
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Eco-Activists Muddy the Waters Again with New Supreme Court Filing as WOTUS Debate Wraps Up
The period for public comment on the revised Waters of the United States rule that has been proposed by the Administration has come to an end. Now, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers will spend the next few months ahead combing through those comments, reviewing and responding to each one of the more than 600,000 letters submitted. Scott Yager is chief environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and in recent conversation remarked that he expects to see a final rule out before the end of the year by Christmas time.
Yager says there are some specific things NCBA is still recommending be changed in the rule, but overall, says they are very pleased with the proposed rule. However, while prospects are promising for better terms and a better future under this revised rule, another question has been raised by activist litigation - bringing groundwater into the fray. Later this year, the Supreme Court will hear a case on groundwater contamination. The verdict, Yager says, will have a ripple effect nationwide and could lead to the regulatory scrutiny of producers who fertilize their land. Basically, if fertilizer used on cropland seeps into groundwater and finds its way into a navigable water, a WOTUS, then said producer might be found guilty of a federal Clean Waters Act violation. Yager says NCBA has banded together with other groups to fight for producers' rights in this instance.
Listen to Yager and Hays discuss the status of these water issues and the impacts they will have on the cattle industry, by clicking here to hear yesterday's Beef Buzz.
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OSU's Kim Anderson Spoke to SUNUP About the Wheat Prices and Where They Will Go From Here
Dr. Kim Anderson,Oklahoma State University Extension Grain Market Economist, talked about current wheat prices and what to expect in the future with SUNUP, host Dave Deken.
Oklahoma wheat prices continue to climb this week. While the World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimates Report (WASDE) projects the U.S. average wheat price to be $4.70/bu. Anderson says that if you look at the past 10 years Oklahoma prices come in 20 cents lower.
Anderson said, producers need to keep emotion out of their marketing decisions. He also said that producers need to not base their decisions off of the outlook.
While past transactions do not indicate what is going to happen. Over the last 11 years the best time to sell wheat is in the months of June, July and August. In those months, the average price was $5.85/bu. However, if you wait until September or even later that average price drops considerably. Have a majority of your grain sold by September, Anderson said.
To read more about what's on tap for this week's episode of SUNUP click or tap here.
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Sponsor Spotlight
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau - a grassroots organization that has for its Mission Statement- "Improving the Lives of Rural Oklahomans." Farm Bureau, as the state's largest general farm organization, is active at the State Capitol fighting for the best interests of its members and working with other groups to make certain that the interests of rural Oklahoma are protected. Click here for their website to learn more about the organization and how it can benefit you to be a part of Farm Bureau.
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Long-Awaited Trade Breakthroughs Fuel Optimism at US Meat Export Federation's Spring Conference
U.S. Meat Export Federation members have been in Kansas City this week for the USMEF Spring Conference and Board of Directors Meeting. According to the USMEF, recent trade developments have apparently injected some welcomed optimism into the event. In his address to the USMEF membership, President and CEO Dan Halstrom reported on Mexico's removal of retaliatory duties on U.S. pork, Canada's elimination of a 10% duty on prepared beef products and Japan's lifting of longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports.
"When I was preparing my comments a week ago there were a lot of negative things to talk about, like the 20% duty on pork going into Mexico," Halstrom explained. "But we received some great news with the U.S., Mexico and Canada reaching a resolution on steel and aluminum tariffs and removal of the retaliatory duties on U.S. products."
As of last Monday, Halstrom reported that the first loads of pork in nearly a year crossed the border into Mexico at zero duty. Halstrom, encouraged by the recent launch of U.S.-Japan trade negotiations, remarked on his hopes for increased access to Japan - pointing out the progress that's already been made with the recent decision by Japan to all U.S. beef from cattle of all ages, which is expected to add significant momentum for U.S. beef exports. USMEF Chair Conley Nelson, a pork producer from Algona, Iowa, mirrored Halstrom's optimistic outlook remarking that "resiliency and industry unity are key factors in gaining broader market access for U.S. agricultural exports."
The conference concludes today with a panel discussion on the trade implications of African swine fever. Click here to continue reading about the conference and the discussions that have taken place there this week.
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ASF Outlook Remains Poor in Asia
China's gateway city of Hong Kong is now officially positive for the African Swine Fever Virus. A news release from the National Pork Board says that means the country is nearly 100 percent covered by ASF. The toll ASF is taking on China's hog herd is now reaching "epic proportions." Some industry experts say the total loss could approach over 200 million animals.
What makes those numbers even worse is the country's farmers can't seem to repopulate their herds effectively and keep the new animals from contracting the disease. That's in spite of the fact that the farmers have depopulated their previous herds, cleaned and disinfected their facilities, and left them idle for months. Animals are still getting sick. This has led to pork shortages across the country, with some production facilities switching to other proteins like chicken and seafood to make ends meet.
Last month, China's Ministry of Agriculture released a 100-day action plan to manage the transition to the ASF self-testing system during the slaughter process and implementing a new system of stationing veterinarians at pig slaughterhouses.
Click here to read more about this situation on our website.
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R-CALF USA Asks Court to Declare Beef Checkoff Practices in 15 States Unconstitutional
Attorneys who represent the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund and the United Stockgrowers of America filed court documents this week challenging the constitutionality of the Beef Checkoff Programs in 15 states. While three of the largest Beef Checkoff states are in the crosshairs of the R Calf Litigation- Texas, Kansas and Nebraska- Oklahoma is not named in these legal manuevers.
The trade industry website Meating Place Dot Com says the groups contend that the state councils in those 15 states are private corporations that have been keeping half of the mandatory beef checkoff assessments they collect.
States named in the suit include Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit accuses state Beef Checkoff executives of using the money to fund "private speech," which R-CALF claims is a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The filing says that statute prohibits the government from compelling cattle producers and other citizens to subsidize private speech.
R-CALF successfully argued a similar point in a lawsuit filed against the state of Montana and received a preliminary injunction in June of 2017. The organization is also involved in a class-action lawsuit accusing Cargill, JBS, National Beef Packing, and Tyson Foods of violating U.S. antitrust laws.
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Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment, AFR Insurance, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Stillwater Milling Company, National Livestock Credit Corporation, Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma AgCredit, Herb's Herb Hemp Farm, the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, and KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!
We invite you to check out our website at the link below too that includes an archive of these daily emails, audio reports and top farm news story links from around the globe.
God Bless! You can reach us at the following:
phone: 405-473-6144
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